What%is%a%Seizure?%

A"seizure"is"the"physical"findings"or"changes"in"behavior"that"occur"after"an"episode"of"abnormal" electrical"activity"in"the"brain."

The"term""seizure""is"often"used"interchangeably"with""convulsion.""Convulsions"are"when"a"person's" body"shakes"rapidly"and"uncontrollably."During"convulsions,"the"person's"muscles"contract"and"relax" repeatedly."There"are"many"different"types"of"seizures."Some"have"mild"symptoms"and"no"body"shaking."

Considerations"

It"may"be"hard"to"tell"if"someone"is"having"a"seizure."Some"seizures"only"cause"a"person"to"have"staring" spells."These"may"go"unnoticed."

Symptoms"

Specific"symptoms"depend"on"what"part"of"the"brain"is"involved."They"occur"suddenly"and"may"include:"

•Brief"blackout"followed"by"period"of"confusion"(the"person"cannot"remember"a"period"of"time)"

•Changes"in"behavior"such"as"picking"at"one's"clothing"

•Drooling"or"frothing"at"the"mouth"

•Eye"movements"

•Grunting"and"snorting"

•Loss"of"bladder"or"bowel"control"

•Mood"changes"such"as"sudden"anger,"unexplainable"fear,"panic,"joy,"or"laughter"

•Shaking"of"the"entire"body"

•Sudden"falling"

•Tasting"a"bitter"or"metallic"flavor"

•Teeth"clenching"

•Temporary"halt"in"breathing"

•Uncontrollable"muscle"spasms"with"twitching"and"jerking"limbs"

Symptoms"may"stop"after"a"few"seconds"minutes,"or"continue"for"15"minutes."They"rarely"continue" longer."

The"person"may"have"warning"symptoms"before"the"attack,"such"as:"

•Fear"or"anxiety"

•Nausea"

•Vertigo" •Visual"symptoms"(such"as"flashing"bright"lights,"spots,"or"wavy"lines"before"the"eyes)"

Causes"

Seizures"of"all"types"are"caused"by"disorganized"and"sudden"electrical"activity"in"the"brain."

Causes"of"seizures"can"include:"

•Abnormal"levels"of"sodium"or"glucose"in"the"blood"

•Brain"infection,"including"meningitis"

•Brain"injury"that"occurs"to"the"baby"during"labor"or"childbirth"

•Brain"problems"that"occur"before"birth"(congenital"brain"defects)"

•Brain"tumor"(rare)"

•Choking"

•Drug"abuse"

•Electric"shock"

•Epilepsy"

•Fever"(particularly"in"young"children)"

•Head"injury"

•Heart"disease"

•Heat"illness"(see"heat"intolerance)"

•High"fever"

•Illicit"drugs,"such"as"angel"dust"(PCP),"cocaine,"amphetamines"

•Kidney"or"liver"failure"

•Low"blood"sugar"

•Phenylketonuria"(PKU),"which"can"cause"seizures"in"infants"

•Poisoning"

•Stroke"

•Toxemia"of"pregnancy"

•Uremia"related"to"kidney"failure"

•Very"high"blood"pressure"(malignant"hypertension)"

•Venomous"bites"and"stings"(see"snake"bite)"

•Withdrawal"from"alcohol"after"drinking"a"lot"on"most"days" •Withdrawal"from"certain"drugs,"including"some"painkillers"and"sleeping"pills"

•Withdrawal"from"benzodiazepines"(such"as"Valium)"

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Sometimes"no"cause"can"be"identified."This"is"called"idiopathic"seizures."They"usually"are"seen"in"children" and"young"adults"but"can"occur"at"any"age."There"may"be"a"family"history"of"epilepsy"or"seizures."

If"seizures"repeatedly"continue"after"the"underlying"problem"is"treated,"the"condition"is"called"epilepsy."

Home"Care"

Most"seizures"stop"by"themselves."However,"the"patient"can"be"hurt"or"injured"during"a"seizure."

When"a"seizure"occurs,"the"main"goal"is"to"protect"the"person"from"injury."Try"to"prevent"a"fall."Lay"the" person"on"the"ground"in"a"safe"area."Clear"the"area"of"furniture"or"other"sharp"objects."

Cushion"the"person's"head."

Loosen"tight"clothing,"especially"around"the"person's"neck."

Turn"the"person"on"his"or"her"side."If"vomiting"occurs,"this"helps"make"sure"that"the"vomit"is"not"inhaled" into"the"lungs."

Look"for"a"medical"I.D."bracelet"with"seizure"instructions."

Stay"with"the"person"until"he"or"she"recovers,"or"until"you"have"professional"medical"help."

If"a"baby"or"child"has"a"seizure"during"a"high"fever,"cool"the"child"slowly"with"tepid"water."Do"not"place" the"child"in"a"cold"bath."You"can"give"the"child"acetaminophen"(Tylenol)"once"he"or"she"is"awake," especially"if"the"child"has"had"fever"convulsions"before."

For"information"on"how"to"help"someone"who"is"having"a"seizure,"see:"Seizure"first"aid"

When"to"Contact"a"Medical"Professional"

Call"911"or"your"local"emergency"number"if:"

•This"is"the"first"time"the"person"has"had"a"seizure."

•A"seizure"lasts"more"than"2"to"5"minutes."

•The"person"does"not"awaken"or"have"normal"behavior"after"a"seizure."

•Another"seizure"starts"soon"after"a"seizure"ends."

•The"person"had"a"seizure"in"water."

•The"person"is"pregnant,"injured,"or"has"diabetes."

•The"person"does"not"have"a"medical"ID"bracelet"(instructions"explaining"what"to"do)."

•There"is"anything"different"about"this"seizure"compared"to"the"person's"usual"seizures." Report"all"seizures"to"the"person's"health"care"provider."The"doctor"may"need"to"adjust"or"change"the" person's"medications."

What"to"Expect"at"Your"Office"Visit"

A"person"who"has"had"a"new"or"severe"seizure"is"usually"seen"in"a"hospital"emergency"room."The"health" care"provider"will"try"to"diagnose"the"type"of"seizure"based"on"the"symptoms."

Tests"will"be"done"to"rule"out"other"medical"conditions"that"cause"seizures"or"similar"symptoms."This" may"include"fainting,"transient"ischemic"attack"(TIA)"or"stroke,"panic"attacks,"migraine"headaches,"sleep" disturbances,"and"others."

Tests"may"include:"

•Blood"tests"

•CT"scan"of"the"head"or"MRI"of"the"head"

•EEG"(usually"not"in"the"emergency"room)"

•Lumbar"puncture"(spinal"tap)"

Further"testing"is"needed"if"you"have:"

•A"new"seizure"without"an"obvious"cause"

•Epilepsy"(to"make"sure"the"person"is"taking"the"right"amount"of"medicine)"

A"single"seizure"due"to"an"obvious"trigger"(such"as"use"of"a"certain"drug)"is"treated"by"eliminating"or" avoiding"that"trigger."

Prevention"

There"is"no"specific"way"to"prevent"all"seizures."However,"the"following"tips"may"help"control"some"of" them:"

•Always"take"your"medications"as"your"doctor"instructed."Family"members"should"observe"and" record"any"seizure"information"to"make"sure"the"person"gets"proper"treatment."

•Get"plenty"of"quality"sleep,"reduce"stress,"exercise,"and"eat"a"healthy"diet."Poor"health"habits" can"make"you"more"likely"to"have"more"seizures."

You"might"help"lower"your"risk"of"seizures"if"you:"

•Avoid"illegal"street"drugs."

You"should"not"drive"if"you"have"uncontrolled"seizures."Every"U.S."state"has"a"different"law"detailing" which"people"with"a"history"of"seizures"are"allowed"to"drive."If"you"have"uncontrolled"seizures,"you" should"avoid"activities"where"loss"of"awareness"would"cause"great"danger,"such"as"climbing"to"high" places,"biking,"and"swimming"alone."

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